Saudi Arabia has initiated its largest geographic survey project aimed at renewable energy, involving the installation of 1,200 stations to monitor solar and wind energy across various regions of the country.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced the project during the signing of two agreements.
He highlighted that the survey will cover an area of 850,000 square kilometers, noting, “No country in the world has ever conducted such a geographic survey over such a vast area.”
The solar energy monitoring stations, which will be installed by Saudi companies, will measure direct natural radiation, global horizontal irradiation, diffuse horizontal irradiation, dust and pollutant deposition rates, ground albedo, ambient temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure.
Wind energy measurement stations, to be installed at multiple heights up to 120 meters, will record wind speed and direction, ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure, and relative humidity.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stated that the project includes establishing a platform within the Ministry of Energy to monitor, record, and transmit measurement data.
This data will be digitally analyzed and processed using artificial intelligence techniques to evaluate and rank locations for renewable energy projects.
The project’s precise and continuously updated data will make new renewable energy projects eligible for financing according to local and international financial institution requirements.
This will facilitate the immediate allocation of land for renewable energy projects and expedite their implementation, reducing the current waiting period of 18 to 24 months to obtain necessary data, according to the Saudi Energy Minister.
He explained that the availability of this data “reduces the risks of implementing these projects, increases their investment appeal, and encourages investors to participate in and invest in renewable energy projects.”
Saudi Arabia aims for renewable energy sources to comprise about 50% of its energy mix by 2030.
The Kingdom also seeks to boost the export of electricity generated from renewable energy and to meet the targets of its Liquid Fuel Displacement Program, reducing reliance on liquid fuels in the electricity production sector.
